HOLMIUM-YAG LASER PROSTATECTOMY - RESULTS OF US PILOT-STUDY

The holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser wavelength's ability to vaporize and in cise soft tissue offers potential advantages for prostatectomy compare d with the Nd:YAG laser, which primarily produces tissue coagulation, In this initial U.S. trial, Ho:YAG laser prostatectomy was performed i n 20 men, including 2 men treated immediately prior to radical prostat ectomy to assess Ho:YAG laser tissue effects in the prostate, A total of 18 men were treated for clinically symptomatic bladder outlet obstr uction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Estimated exce ss BPH tissue averaged 24 g (range 5-50 g), A mean of 129 kJ of Ho:YAG laser energy was delivered, combined with a mean of 11 kJ of Nd:YAG e nergy to provide supplemental coagulation for hemostasis, The mean ope rative time was 1 hour 34 minutes, No significant intraoperative chang es in hematocrit or serum electrolytes were documented, No perioperati ve or late complications occurred, The mean postoperative catheterizat ion time was 1.4 days, Of the 18 patients, 16 (90%) underwent a succes sful voiding trial on the first postoperative morning, Immediate impro vement in voiding, comparable to that seen after transurethral electro cautery resection of the prostate (TURF), was reported by all patients , Ho:YAG laser resection of the prostate appears to be a useful surgic al technique associated with minimal morbidity and immediate improveme nt in voiding.